Police redress Southeast marginalization in postings

Police Service Commission (PSC) vows to redress marginalization in promotions of women, southeast and northeast zones, an official said today.

The PSC approved new guidelines to redress underrepresentation in postings of northeast/southeast officers and appoint more women senior police officers.

The guidelines specify policy on deployment of AIGs, Police Commissioners, and tactical commanders, spokesperson Ikechukwu Ani said in a statement.

Consequently, the Commission resolved to

• Give priority to disadvantaged zones in future requests for deployment of Commissioners to State Commands to accommodate Northeast/Southeast regions
• All six geo-political zones must have at least 15 percent representation in deployment of AIGs to Zones, CPs to State Commands and Commanding Officers to Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter-Terrorism (CTU) and Special Protection Unit (SPU).
• Deployments to zones and Commands must recognize Nigeria’s “heterogeneity and reflect fairness and equity in terms of ethnicity and religion.”

Additionally, police will now appoint no fewer than three female Command Commissioners and one Zonal Assistant Inspector General (AIG).

The Commission approved these proposals at its 21st Plenary Meeting in Abuja on Thursday, 15 June 2023, with Chairman, Dr Solomon Arase presiding. Arase is a retired Inspector General of Police.

It mandated Inspector General to henceforth observe Federal Character in recruitment and deployment of personnel at all levels, Ani said. This, according to them, is because the current practice “does not reflect the principle of equity and fairness to all geo-political zones of the country.”

The Commission observed that the force marginializes officers from Northeast and Southeast during such postings.

“It has become extremely important that a fair representation of all geo-political zones is always reflected in these deployments to eschew and address the feeling and sense of marginalization and injustice by certain zones of the country in the Nigeria Police Force.”

The Police Service Commission Act gives the PSC powers to regulatory and manage efficiency, promotions, and discipline in the Force.

The Commission hopes that these measures will promote more trust and confidence from citizens to take ownership of their police.

This will lead to citizens “showing greater understanding, cooperation and support to the NPF towards improved community safety and adequate internal security in Nigeria.”

To remove its negative gender-sensitivity image, the 36 State Commands will henceforth have three no fewer than female Commissioners. The 17 zonal commands will also have one female AIG, the Commission said.

Highlight of the meeting was the appointment of two Deputy Inspectors General, and promotion of 14 Commissioners to AIG ranks,. Additionally, PSC also promoted 22 deputy commissioners to substantive commissioner ranks.  

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